Star Board Term Two Week Four

Principal's Message

Kia Ora Koutou

Notes first

The Relay for Life although postponed for tonight has seen our students already fundraising very generously for the Cancer Research cause. We are looking forward to the work of Lila and Ella reaching its culmination with the school relay later this term.

Commitment

The focus Value as you should all know is COMMITMENT and the winter term particularly is when this value is truly tested. When I enrol new families, and when I met 99.99% of you at your application interview, this value (along with all others) was talked about. I say when talking about Commitment, “you sign up- you show up”.

Some of our flock are struggling to live out this commitment. There will be occasions when illness and the like will mean absence, so genuine cause for unavailability is understood and accepted. However, just not feeling like playing or a last-minute change of heart is unacceptable.

Lessons of Winnie the Pooh

When I was a young mum, I would sit alongside my children and enjoy Sesame Street and Playschool. I would read them stories they loved- over-and-over again. All these moments of joy were moments of sharing and learning. So, I want to bring today’s message to you, courtesy of Winnie the Pooh.

The following lessons are using quotes from A. A. Milne’s ‘Winnie the Pooh’ books. What they say is as simple as ‘you sign up, you show up”, but the messages they contain are even more profound.

Concreting Feelings and Values

“How do you spell ‘love’?” – asked Piglet

“You don’t spell it…you feel it.” – replied Pooh”

When you consider all our values and marks, they are merely words until we commit to making them actions. In this instance you need to feel those emotions to truly understand them.

Compassion is a value that should compel you to show kindness. Integrity is actually you doing the right thing. Commitment is actually turning up for your team’s game rather than making excuses.

Empathy

In a conversation between Eeyore and Winnie the Pooh this is said “A little Consideration, a little Thought for Others, makes all the difference.”. It reminds us that anyone can feel sympathy. Empathy is when you can imagine what that might feel like if you were in that person’s shoes and that is powerful. In feeling empathy, you understand the other person’s position better- and yourself better.

Show Patience; have Faith

You know those moments of “are we there yet?”- well that has been me I must confess. Patience is not my greatest virtue; start a job finish a job is my mantra (or it may never get finished). Following closely behind that is Faith- I have strong Faith; a complete confidence in the capacity of others and that there is a power bigger than us all. So even on those occasions when distraction slows a job, having Faith that it will get done makes the difference.

Winnie the Pooh thinks the same when he says “Rivers know this: There is no hurry. We shall get there some day.”

Self-Belief

Both myself and my children’s dad, when he was still with us, would always say ‘back yourself’. Christopher Robin says to Pooh’ “You are braver than you believe, Stronger than you seem, And smarter than you think.” You cannot control what anyone thinks of you, but you have complete control over what you think about yourself.

Be Your best self

In Assembly notices today Miss Glass reminded the students about maintaining uniform standards. She referenced that I write every morning to them that they are to ‘be [their] best selves’. Having high expectations about how we turn ourselves out for each day can determine the day we will have. In Winnie the Pooh it is said “You can’t stay in your corner of the Forest waiting for others to come to you. You have to go to them sometimes.”. In St Matthew’s there is no time to wait. Our action everyday is to live up to the standards expected because the route forward is that we expect standards to be upheld because that is what we all signed up to do.

Smile

Pooh says, “Always wear a smile, because your smile is a reason for many others to smile!”.

The impact of a smile on someone else is golden. Smiling is relaxing and it makes others smile too- try it more regularly.

Funnily some of you may recall my referencing balloons in your enrolment interviews, and recently I have had this moment spoken of - all those years ago. What I can say about that simple balloon, is that life really needs to be kept simple because as Pooh said “Nobody can be un-cheered with a balloon.”

Have a great and safe weekend.

Ngā Mihi

Kiri

Boarding Note

On Tuesday afternoon we had lots of fun in Main House when a small group of boarders participated in a selfie challenge. Thanks to Fizz our lovely tutor for organising this and to Penny Borthwick, Sophie Joblin and Olivia Guscott who joined in on the fun.